Chapter Four: Neighbors and a Run into Atlanta
"There is nothing stronger then the love between two brothers but no amount of love can make two brothers will defend each other till death but even death can not make them agree." -E.B.D
"No light, no light, in your bright blue eyes, I never knew daylight could be so violent, revelation in the light of day." No Light No Light -Florence and The Machine
I own nothing except my characters that I created from the depth of my twisted imagination. Please comment if you are reading my story. I know you are so please leave a comment I really want to know what you guys think of my story and if you have any suggestions about what you want to happen in this story. Please comment I will give cooks to everyone who comments.
The next morning Emma was up early, the camp was quiet, Shane was up on the roof of the RV finishing up his watch before he would hand it off to Dale again. Emma breathed in the morning air and stretched enjoying the peace and quiet until it was broken by someone chuckling near by. Emma turned to see who it was chuckling to come face to face with Merle standing there smirking with his arms crossed staring at her. His eyes traveling over her body making her glare at him.
"Mornin' missy. Whatchya doin up this early?" he asked still eyeing her up and down making her fists clench and unclench.
" I always wake up early Merle. Its a habit, I would be getting up and getting ready to go to work at this hour." she said calmly trying to resist the urge to punch that smirk off of his face. He chuckled again.
"What did ya use ta do that had ya gettin up at this fucked up hour?" he asked moving closer immediately putting Emma on edge.
"Not that its any business of yours but I use to be a teacher." she said watching as the man came closer and closer to her making her take a small step back trying to keep a gap between them.
" Pretty gal like ya shouldn't be wastin her time with little brats. Should be out doin somethin else with a face like this." he said coming uncomfortably close.
" Yes I'm sure by that you mean strippin or somethin well I liked "wasting my time with little brats" thank you." she snarled fists clenched as she took another step back from him trying to put some space in between them again.
On the roof of the RV Shane watched the two talk, he stood up ready to come to the new girls aid if Merle tried anything. Over at the Dixon's tent Daryl could hear his brother talking to someone. He laid their listening trying to see if he could guess who his brother was talking to. Sure enough hearing the other persons voice he knew right away it was the new girl. It sounded like Merle was slowly pissing her off, sighing Daryl dragged himself to his feet. ' So much for gettin some extra sleep. Thanks a fucking lot Merle.' Daryl thought angrily as he walked out the tent to make sure his brother didn't do anything stupid only to see Deputy Dumbass on the roof of the RV watching the whole thing ready to play hero. Daryl rolled his eyes at the man before turning to look at his brother. He was right in Emma's face which was pissing the girl off never mind what he was saying. Daryl was about to go back in the tent and leave the two to deal with whatever they were talking about when he saw the quiver of bolts that she had given him and the deal he had made. 'I don't bother ya and your brother I don't bother you. Deal? Deal.' He sighed and turned back to the two as he heard an angry snarl come from the girl as Merle continued to talk.
"No need to get all touchy darlin' just chattin here. Nothing to get all angry about." he said advancing on her still.
" Cause I don't want to chat with ya right now." she snapped her knuckles cracking turning white from how tight she was clenching her fists.
" Aw well now why don't ya want ta talk ta your good ol' friend Merle?" he said as he closed the gap between them.
"Well let me be cruelly honest I don't like ya and I really don't like how fucking close ya are to me right now. So if ya could just take several steps back we'll get along just fine." she snarled her pink eyes turning almost red with rage. Daryl saw the look in her eyes and started to walk forward as Shane came down off the roof of the RV also moving closer to the pair.
" Now why would I do that?" Merle asked moving even closer and putting a hand on her waist pulling her close. That was the last straw for Emma faster then both Shane and Daryl could comprehend Emma shoved Merle away and slammed her fist into his face so hard the redneck fell back. Emma slammed her boot down on his chest and knelt and grabbed Merles shirt so she could look into his eyes her boot still firmly planted on his chest.
" Lets come to an understanding right now Merle. I don't like ya at all you understand me? I don't want to hear any of your bullshit so lets get something straight right now. Ya speak to me again or touch me again I will do more then just punch ya in the face next time. Got it? Next time I will beat your face in so hard ya won't have a face left got it?" she snarled Merle spat in her face earning him the back of Emma's hand to his face.
" Ya really are that stupid huh? Fine then jackass get this through that thick fucking head of yours; bother me again and I will give you a worse beating next time." she snapped shoving Merle into the dirt.
" Fuck man your brother is smart enough to leave alone whats your fucking problem?" she growled wiping the blood and spit from her face as Merle got to his feet. The redneck charge at her about to hit her in the back of head only to have her turn around and punch him in the stomach, chest and face before sending a front kick into his stomach sending him to the ground again.
" Back off Dixon! Fighting me will only get your ass kicked from one end of this camp to the other!" she shouted at the man on the ground as he groaned and struggled to his feet. Emma glared at him with eyes that could have killed him on the spot if they could.
Shane looked on in shock at what he just saw as well as the rest of camp that was now awake. Everyone had just watched Merle Dixon get his ass kicked by a woman half his size and weight. No one knew how to react to what they had just seen. All except Daryl, sure his brother was being a dick but no way was he going to stand by and let some woman kick the crap out of his brother.
" Hey bitch don'tchya fuckin touch my brother." he snarled going to shove her back but in one smooth movment she dodged his hand grabbed his arm and twisted sending Daryl to his knees as pain laced through his arm into his shoulder and down his back.
"I told ya not to bother me this is what happens when ya do. I don't want trouble so ya will either keep your brother on a fucking leash or he is going to get his ass kicked by me. Got it?" she growled
"Ya fucking touch my brother again I'll kick your ass!" Daryl snapped wincing in pain as she twisted his arm further.
"I asked ya nicely to leave me alone now I am asking ya again to get your brother to leave me alone. I don't have a problem with ya just him. So you keep him away from me and I won't have to kick his ass and we'll all get alone just fine ok?" she hissed staring down into his steel blue eyes. He gave a nod of understanding.
"Good." she snapped before untwisting his arm and pulling him to his feet and spinning him around so his arm was straight again her hand still held tightly in his.
"I'll hold you to your word. Keep him away from me and we will have no more trouble between us. Got it?" she said again calmer this time.
" Yeah, I got it." he said as he stared her down blue clashing with pink. In a silent battle of wills. With neither winning they dropped their hands.
"Good."she said
"Good." he said and turned to his brother helping him to his feet.
" Stupid bitch." they snarled at her. Emma simply glared.
"Dumbass rednecks." she snarled back before turning and walking toward her tent and coming back out with her bow and sword and all her knives strapped to her. She walked up to Shane who was still standing there in shock with everyone else as she walked up to him.
"I'm going hunting I'll be back before nightfall." she said turning to head towards the woods making Shane snap out of it.
"Hold up if your goin alone take this." he handed her a small hand gun.
" I don't need that." she said looking at the gun he held out to her.
" I know this is just if ya get in trouble. Fire this once and we'll come find ya and get ya out of there ok? Ya know how to use it?" he asked as she took the gun from his hand.
" Yes I know how to use it. I know how to use just about any weapon from guns to knives to bows." she turned the gun over in her hand inspecting it.
" 9 mm nice gun." she said tucking it into her belt.
" It is a nice piece. Just remember one shot thats all ok?" he said
"One shot got it. I'll be back soon." she said turning away to march into the woods. Daryl looked up at her as she marched past.
"Where the fuck ya goin?" he snapped but he didn't get an answer she walked straight past him and into the woods. 'Fucking bitch gonna get herself killed!' he thought as he grabbed his crossbow and extra bolts and marched after her.
"Hey! I'm talkin ta ya! Where the hell ya goin?" he asked again as she continued to ignore him.
" Answer me woman!" he snarled as she disappeared behind a bush. He raced around the bush to grab her and make her stop only to find the path in front of him empty. He looked around him remembering how fast she moved only moments earlier only to turn around just in time to see a pair of boots come swing down and slam into his chest knocking the wind out of him and sending him to the ground. Emma dropped down from the branch above her feet landing on either side of his body her hand firmly planted on his chest keeping him down.
"Why are you following me!?" she snapped her pink eyes staring into his blue ones trying to figure out what he was playing at.
"Where the hell are ya goin woman was all I wanted the hell to know." he said glaring up at her.
"I'm going huntin there happy now?" she asked standing up and helping him to his feet.
"Yeah and I..." he trailed off rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
" And ya what?" she asked crossing her arms waiting for him to finish his sentence.
"I'm sorry bout what my brother did ta ya." he said quietly not looking at her.
Emma was caught off guard by the apology seeing as Daryl didn't seem like the type to apologize for anything. But here he was apologizing for his brothers behaviour. Emma didn't know how to respond at first, she knew from the first time she saw the Dixon brothers that Daryl did not see eye to eye with his older brother but would always defend him either way. Yet here he was apologizing for his brothers shitty behaviour.
She smiled and nodded.
"Apology accepted. It should be your brother apologizing but thats asking for to much. But thanks anyway." she said before turning and heading deeper into the forest.
"Hey!" Daryl called making Emma turn around.
"You goin alone?" he asked. Making Emma smirk and look around.
"Ya see anyone else with me?" she asked
" Ya shouldn't be out here on your own. Do ya even know how to hunt?" he asked
"I'm no pro but yeah I know how to hunt. I'd be dead by now if I didn't" she said with a chuckle. Daryl nodded before walking towards her.
"I'll come with ya."he said
" Ya don't have to." she said continuing to walk deeper into the woods.
"Someones gotta make sure ya don't get yourself killed." he said walking beside her crossbow at the ready.
"Thanks." she said loading an arrow into her bow. They walked in silence for a while before Daryl finally broke the silence.
" What did ya mean ya got no problem with me just my brother?" he asked the question finally bugging him enough to ask it.
" I just don't have a problem with ya. I can see that sure you can be a prick like your brother but your not as bad as he is so I don't have a problem with ya." she said as she stopped and took aim at a rabbit she spotted. Daryl didn't say anything as he spotted a squirrel and took aim. They both fired at the same time killing their targets. They walked away from each other going to collect their kills and their arrows. They both tied their kills to a string and slung it over their shoulders. They continued their hunt in silence not even realizing they had done the same things at the same time. Maybe Dale was right about that connection after all.
Four rabbits and eight squirrels later the two returned to camp and handed off their kills to the women in charge of cooking tonight. Daryl went back over to his brother as Emma went over to see what was going on near the RV. Shane and some of the other men were discussing a supply run and who would be going.
"Take Merle with ya get him outta here before Emma kills him. Not that thats a bad thing but I don't need anymore fightin between those two." Shane told the men gathered around him.
"Yes please do take him with you hopefully the idiot gets eaten and we don't have to see his ugly face again." Emma said making the men jump. She smiled and T-Dog and Glenn smiled at her comment.
" I like this girl shes got the right idea." said Morales as he walked over with Andrea who would be going with them. Emma moved away as the group began to head into the city Emma walked up to Glenn as he headed toward the van they would be taking into the city.
"You be careful out there Glenn keep to the allies if you can ok." she advised Glenn nodded
"I'll be fine don't worry about me." he said patting her shoulder.
"Hey Glenn if you run into these two could ya make sure they come back here?" she asked handing Glenn a small picture. Glenn looked at the picture, it was a picture of Emma, her brother and her best friend Evan they were smiling, her brother had his arms wrapped around her waist and his head pressed against the side of her head as Even leaned on Franks shoulder and smiled at the camera as Emma rested her head against Evans chest. Glenn smiled at the picture and carefully placed it in his back pocket.
"Thats a nice picture of you three." he said with a smile.
"Yeah that was the last picture taken of us before I left for Canada. I miss them. Please bring them back with you if you find them."she pleaded,Glenn smiled and hugged her.
"Of course I will don't worry." he said reassuringly
"Thanks Glenn." she said and gave him a gentle shove toward the van where Merle and the others were waiting.
"Get goin you don't want to be left behind now." she said as she waved him away. He waved to her as he hurried toward the van. She turned around and headed up the ladder to the roof of the RV to sit with Dale.
"Do you think they will be ok?" Emma asked staring after the disappearing van.
"They will be fine don't ya worry." Dale said giving her shoulder a gentle pat before returning to his watch. Emma climbed down the ladder and went to help out around camp with whatever chores needed to be done.